Memorial launches publication dedicated to Last Post Ceremony

The Last Post: a ceremony of love, loss, and remembrance at the Australian War Memorial

An inspirational new book dedicated to the daily ceremony which honours Australians who lost their lives in service of our country was today launched at Parliament House by Prime Minister the Honourable Malcolm Turnbull.

Memorial Director, Dr Brendan Nelson said the publication captures the essence of the Last Post Ceremony, which was inspired by his many visits to the Menin Gate in Ieper (Ypres), Belgium. It is here that the Last Post is played daily.   

“Just as in Belgium, every chance I get I attend the Last Post Ceremony at the Australian War Memorial. Each and every ceremony is different. Each time it strikes an emotional chord for everyone present cloaked by the Roll of Honour.

“I recall the visiting Hungarian president and his wife listening to the story of Australian soldier Lance Corporal Luke Gavin, who was killed in Afghanistan in 2011. The president’s wife was moved to tears and Gavin’s daughter, Olivia, wrapped her arms around Her Excellency’s legs and looked up at her, saying, “It’s okay to cry. I cry about it a lot too.” Moments like these, captured in this book, show just how powerful and important this ceremony has become,” Dr Nelson said.

Every day, people from all walks of life gather in the Commemorative Area of the Australian War Memorial to hear the story of one Australian who died in the service of our nation. From visiting dignitaries to year six students from remote parts of Australia, flowers or wreaths are laid in remembrance. The event concludes with the playing of the Last Post, a bugle call that has come to symbolise a farewell to those who died in service.

This superbly illustrated volume, published by NewSouth, presents a selection of personal stories and images related to the ceremony. It further reflects on why we commemorate the changing nature of commemoration through history, and the central role played by the Australian War Memorial in our national story.

“The Memorial was founded by Charles Bean to ensure that the nation would never forget the spirit of those who served, and to help others understand the Australian experience of war,” author Emma Campbell said.

“But it can be difficult to exhibit individual experiences, or even to include them in the official histories, so in most cases the stories of the men and women who served have not been formally recorded.

“The Last Post Ceremony aims to rectify this by revealing the details of a person’s life – including their childhood, family, and early pursuits – as well as their war service, to help people better understand the sacrifice of the more than 102,800 Australians whose names are set in bronze on the Memorial’s Roll of Honour. This book explains how we do that, and what it has meant to thousands of people who have participated in the event so far.”

The book retails at $29.99 and is available at the Australian War Memorial shop, online, and at good bookstores nationally.